Still Frustrated with Ends

[2ndsbetter]

I'm over 2 year post BC and yet my crown is only 3 inches long. My front is finally touching my eyelid. But my most pressing issue is my ends. I have ssks and splits. I've tried search & destroy, heavy sealing and protective styling. I've been exclusively wearing cornrows under a wig for almost 3 months. The ends of my twist are always puffy. I feel like maybe blowdrying them will help.
Any thoughts?

 

[texasqt]

What else are you doing with your hair? How often do you wash & condition? What products are using? Hair type? Dry hair?

You left out a lot of important details

 

[Flawlis1]

That's not much growth for 2 years, have you tried hair vitamins?

 

[frizzy]

When I was natural and having the same symptoms your hair is having, I think it was due to lack of protein. But not knowing what products you use and your regimen, I advise doing a couple of moisture DCs then a hard protein and all moisture after that, until you get a feel for what it needs.

Mane n Tail is a light protein and moisturizing conditoner/leave-in that you can use once you solve your current issue to maintain balance.

Another thing that may help is to always dry your hair while braided or plaited, never loose. That's when the ends wrap around each other and cause SSKs.

I didn't truly know what moisturized hair felt like until I started DCing 2X per week.

 

[manter26]

What's your current regimen? Blow-drying might conflate the problem so I think you should figure out where the issues are before reaching for heat.

 

[2ndsbetter]

texasqt I DC weekly with whatever I have. I try to use a product that has protein and moisture. I wash weekly too. I spritz daily with aloe vera juice, water and grapeseed oil. I seal my ends with Crisco and oil my scalp with sulfur and grapeseed oil.

 

[2ndsbetter]

@Flawlis1 Sorry, I meant 1 year BC. My last relaxer was May 2010 but I BC'd again to a fade in August 2011.

 

[2ndsbetter]

manter26 I DC weekly with whatever I have. I try to use a product that has protein and moisture. The last DCs I've used are Cholesterol and Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Treatement. I use Aphogee Pro-Vitamin Leave-In and seal with grapeseed or argan oil. I then stretch my hair with twists before it's cornrowed. I wash weekly too with Nexxus Therapee but I'm looking for a cleansing conditioner or more moisturizing shampoo. I spritz daily with aloe vera juice, water and grapeseed oil. I seal my ends with Crisco and oil my scalp with sulfur and grapeseed oil.
I'm thinking of investing in a seamless comb and a hatchet dryer with attachment. I want to test out my blowdryer theory since I can't think of anything else to do right now.

 

[manter26]

manter26 I DC weekly with whatever I have. I try to use a product that has protein and moisture. The last DCs I've used are Cholesterol and Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Treatement. I use Aphogee Pro-Vitamin Leave-In and seal with grapeseed or argan oil. I then stretch my hair with twists before it's cornrowed. I wash weekly too with Nexxus Therapee but I'm looking for a cleansing conditioner or more moisturizing shampoo. I spritz daily with aloe vera juice, water and grapeseed oil. I seal my ends with Crisco and oil my scalp with sulfur and grapeseed oil.
I'm thinking of investing in a seamless comb and a hatchet dryer with attachment. I want to test out my blowdryer theory since I can't think of anything else to do right now.

How are you styling your hair? How does it feel and do you notice breakage?

 

[frizzy]

2ndsbetter it looks like you are getting a lot of protein. Try going with a moisturizing DC, no repairing, no vitamins and no reconditioners, just moisture.

The aloe vera is acidic and closes the cuticle of the hair shaft, so yours might be too tight to let moisture in. Try plain old distilled or filtered water for spritzing.

Do you deep cond. with heat? That will help if you don't.

I find Suave Naturals coconut conditioner good as a moisturizing conditioner, it has been a go-to when I need to detangle or add some softness to my hair.

Sulpher is great for the scalp but very drying to the hair. Since you are in cornrows AND under a wig, your hair is coming in contact with it...baking. Try using the sulpher oil on wash day, when your hair is loose for a couple hours, then wash it out.

So in summary:
drop the protein and replace with moisture only
drop the aloe vera juice and replace with water only
drop the sulpher oil on braided hair--and for goodness' sake don't blow dry hair with sulpher on it
keep the grapeseed oil/Crisco
trim those splits
try out Suave for a leave-in (heavy handedly then add oil)
DC with heat

 

[DarkJoy]

frizzy has some fantastic suggestions!

As a fellow problem crown suffered, I suggest 2 things: ditching both the regular shampoos and the condish's with silicons (particularly the creme of nature argan). For some reason, some of us naturals have massive breakage with silicon based products as well as sudsy shampoos. Trim, then try co-washing for 2 weeks and see if the breakage stops/slows. If you don't like it, at least use a sulfate free shampoo. If you haven't try 'cone free.

Woohoo! I just found an extensive list of 'cone free conditioners!!

Anyway, my hair started growing again and I got just past SL when I ditched all that stuff! Unfortunately, due to the extensive damage I had to BC in July. When I tried a cone condish again a month later? Break city and I had to chop off another 1/2" from my TWA !!

Doesn't hurt to try for a short time and see how your hair responds. Good luck!

 

[DarkJoy]

Also, do you do regular trims and dustings?

 

[2ndsbetter]

manter26 I keep my hair in twists are cornrows mostly. I don't notice any breakage and my hair feels ok until I get to the ends.

 

[2ndsbetter]

Also, do you do regular trims and dustings?

I dust at least every 2 months. I mainly search and destroy.

 

[texasqt]

Additionally, take an assessment of your nutritional intake. Someone mentioned vitamins. Are you eating healthy? Do you get the recommended servings of protein/lean meats, veggies, fruits, and carbs. And don't forget about water!

Shampoo for me is very drying so I only use once a month or as needed. All other times I co-wash with a deep moisturizing conditioner.

Good luck!

 

[manter26]

I think you should drop the sulphur for now as well. Try baggying overnight and see if the condition of your ends changes.

 

[Gryphyn]

Maybe try moisturizing more thoroughly (DC and co-wash more often) and try baggying your ends at night? When I had natural hair and kept it in a protective styles my hair was always so dry when I took it down and I never understood why. I think it was because i'd have it braided/twisted for so long that I wasn't moisturizing it enough.